Apparatus for distributing must.



PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905.

E. T. MEAKIN. APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MUST.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJG, 1904.

4 SHEETSSHBET l.

5 E S 5 u No. 808,397. I PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905. E. T. MEAKIN.

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MUST.

APPLICATION FILED SBPTJB, 1904. I

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No.808,39'7. PATENTED DEG.26,1905. E. T. MEAKINI APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MUST.

APPLICATION FILED 321mm, 1904.

4 sums-SEEM a.

N0. 808,397. PATENTE D DEC. 26, 1905. E. T. MEAKIN. APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MUST.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.16, 1904 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNTTE STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING IVIUST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed September 16, 1904. Serial No. 224,754.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR T. MEAKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Distributing Must, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to wine-making machinery, more particularly to the distribution of the must from the crushing device into tanks; and it consists in the devices and com binations recited in the claim at the end hereof.

In carrying out my invention I arrange a pump which takes the must from the crusher and stemmers and forces it through the pipe into a valve which directs it to a spout mounted on a swivel by which it is discharged to any one of a series of tanks. When that series of tanks is filled, the valve is turned and directs the must onward through a pipe to another spout, by which it is in turn discharged into any one of a series of tanks, and so on to any desired extent.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in what I consider its best form.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the crusher, the stemmer, the pump, the pipe through which the must is forced, and tanks of two series with the valves and spouts for directing the must to them. Fig. 2 is a top view of the directing-valve. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same, taken from line 3 to 3, showing the valve closed. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3, but showing the valve opened. Fig. 5 is an isometrical view of the valve-seat. Fig. 6 is an isometrical view of the valve. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 5, taken from line 7 to 7. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 6, taken from line 8 to 8. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 3, taken from line 9 to 9. Fig. 10 is an isometrical view of the valve and its seat and the arrange ment of arms for operating the valve and counter-balancing it as it appears when the valve is closed; and Fig. 11 is a similar View to Fig. 10, but showing the valve opened and the operating-arms in different position.

In the figures, 1 represents the crushing apparatus in which the grapes are crushed, and 2 is the stemmer which separates the stems from the crushed material.

4 is the pump of any suitable pattern which takes the must as it comes from the stemmer and forces it through the pipe 5 to the valve 6, where it is directed either onward or downward, as the case may be. When directed downward, it passes down to the swiveled spout 10, which discharges into any one of the tanks 11, according to its position, the spout being swiveled so that it may be swung around to discharge into eithertank. When the valve directs the must onward, it passes on through the continuation of the pipe 12 into a valve 13, which discharges the must downward through a swiveled spout 14 into the tanks 15 or if they are full directs it onward through the pipe 16 into another valve and series of tanks. (Not shown.) 1

The construction of the valve-casing is shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4. It consists of a shell in which is mounted a swiveled valve 17 in such a manner that it may be turned to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 11, and thus direct the must downward to the swiveled spout 10, which is connected to the valve-casing by a suitable clamp 18, or the valve may be turned to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 10, which closes the communication with the spout 10 and directs the must onward to the pipe 12. The construction of the valve proper is nearly apparent from the figures. It is composed, preferably, of a metal plate 19, faced with rubber 20, having beveled edges, so as to form a tight joint with the sides of the casing, and with its correspondingly-beveled seat, as particularly shown in Figs. 7 and 8, so that no must will pass it except in the desired direction.

The valve-seat 21 may be formed of a separate piece from the body of the casing, as more particularly shown in Figs. 5, 7, 10, and 11, and of such form that when the valve is closed it will close against the seating-surface and form a tight joint. Below the valve-seat is the coupling 22, with the clamp 18 connecting it with the discharge-spout 10. The latter not only serves as a connection, but also as a swivel, so that the spout may be turned, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 9. The clamp 18 consists of two sections bolted together and having inner projecting edges within which the outward projecting edges of the coupling and spout are clamped.

The valve 17 is mounted upon a shaft 23, which extends through the casing or through the seat at one side and has on its end the operating-levers 24 and also an arm 25 with an adjustable weight 26, which serves to balance the valve and retain it in its seat position. To the ends of the arms 24 rods or cords 27 are attached and by which the valve can be opened or closed, as the case may be.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific structure shown, but that the device may be modified structurally or otherwise in various ways without departing from the scope of my invention. For instance, the pipe 16 may be connected to a crusher and pumping apparatus similar to the one already described and the swiveled valve 17 opened vertically in such a manner, however, to direct the must downward from either direction simultaneously or independently, as the case may be, thereby increasing the speed of operation or fill up two independent series of tanks at the same time.

Having thus described an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is In a liquid-distributing apparatus, a suitable pipe, valves interposed in the pipe so arranged as to permit the discharge of material through one of the valves, the said valves comprising in their construction a suitable casing forming a passage-Way alining with the pipe and a lateral suitably positioned with relation to the said passage-way, a coupling attached to 'the lateral, a valve-seat having oppositelybeveled contact-surfaces interposed between the lateral and the coupling, a discharge-pipe swiveled on the coupling and a valve pivoted approximately centrally of the valve-seat and adapted to engage the beveled surfaces of the valve-seat to close the passage-Way through the lateral or to contact with the Wall of the casing and the interior surface of the coupling to form an obstruction to the passage of. liquid beyond the valve so set, whereby the said liquid is directed to the discharge-pipe of the valve.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of subscribing Witnesses, this 10th day of September, 1904.

EDGAR T. MEAKIN. Witnesses:

W. F. FISHER, A. S. PARn. 

